A father-of-two started a devastating fire at House of Reeves before staying to watch the damage he had caused, a court heard.

Gordon Thompson set alight the historic Croydon landmark in an act of “cynical cowardice”, the prosecution told the jury at the Old Bailey.

The 33-year-old is accused of setting alight the 150-year-old building, leaving it a charred ruin.

Oliver Glasgow, prosecuting, told the court how Mr Thompson, of Waddon Road, had gone to the store and robbed the building of a laptop.

He added: “Having looted and vandalised the store, the defendant was still not satisfied.

“In an act of cynical cowardice, he went back inside the shop and set fire to one of the sofas stood in the window.

“The effect, as anyone would realise and as he plainly intended, was catastrophic.

“The sofa went up in flames, as did other pieces of furniture in the showroom and within minutes the inferno was raging out of control.

“The defendant stayed at the scene to watch what he had done before the heat and the flames drove him away.

“The resulting fire was devastating.”

The jury were shown stills and footage from CCTV at House of Reeves, Techno Estates store across the road and mobile phone footage.

Among the footage was that taken by Monica Konczyk, the woman who leapt from her burning apartment and captured on film – the photo becoming an iconic image from the riots.

Speaking of the assembled stills, Mr Glasgow said: “This footage shows, beyond any doubt, that the person who set this fire was this defendant and that his claims to have had nothing to do with this attack are lies.”

The jury were told how a witness, Craig Street, was in Reeves Corner visiting his brother, having decided to “fight the rioters and stand my ground”.

The court heard how he spotted a man wearing a bright red hooded jumper, later identified by him as the defendant.

He heard the defendant say “let’s burn the place” or “let’s torch the place” as he left the building, the jury were told.

Mr Thompson then asked “who’s got a lighter” before being handed one and proceeding to set alight to a sofa, according to the prosecution.

The court heard how Mr Street captured the incident on his mobile phone and handed it to the police later.

Mr Thomson denies arson with intent to endanger life, burglary and violent disorder.

He has previously pleaded guilty to burglary from Iceland and House of Fraser.

The trial continues.